Cycled down to Lewisham first thing this morning and hit the gym. I know it’s vanity on my part but I want to get my fitness levels up as high as possible if my health is going to be under the microscope for all to see. I ran 6 miles with relative ease and had an awesome leg workout with weights before cycling back in the rain.

I really don’t know how smoking is going to impact on my training or my health but one thing is for sure, it’s not going to make it any easier. It’s going to be a great/horrible experience. I’ve been lectured to and had the riot act read at me about doing this. I’ve been asked ‘Would you inject heroin?’ by doctors ‘Because nicotine is worse than that’. Of course I wouldn’t. I know I’m taking a huge risk of becoming a cigarette addict but I’m strong willed and have a great support mechanism of friends, family and colleagues to help in the aftermath of this experiment. I will not let nicotine corrupt my belief mechanism. I’m going to smoke for two weeks and then I’m not smoking anymore. I’ve talked to my good friend Lee Bannister who also happens to be a hypnotherapist. The idea is that I see him before and after the experiment for hypnotherapy. I think it will be a good safety net to set in place. Although I’m feeling strong about it now, I am jumping into the unknown somewhat. I’ve started to have feelings of apprehension just thinking about sparking up. I’ll be so relieved when it’s all over. Got my sights set on running the London Marathon 2008. There I’ve said it! It’s in black and white. No going back now. Run forest run.

The headline in the London paper last Thursday reads ‘BLAIR QUITS’ apparently it doesn’t refer to a smoking habit but he is stepping down from the position of President of the United States of Britain Plc. I hope that clears up any confusion caused.

My friend Polly sent me a film called Scene Smoking – Cigarette, Cinema and the Myth of Cool. That’s what I’m watching tonight!